Filing container



Jan. 23, 1934. F.1D. JONAS FILING CONTAINER Filed Nov, 5, 1931 Patented Jan. 23, 1934 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFicE FILING CONTAINER Richard A. Jonas, Jr., D.A Jonas, and Edward 1F. Jonas Application November 5,

7 Claims.

This invention relates in general to :tiling containers of the sliding drawer type made from cardboard bre and other similar materials and are designed for shipping at or knocked down for setting up by the user.

The general object of the invention is to provide a relatively cheap ling or storage container of 'this type which is adapted to rapid manufacture in large quantities and which is exceedingly rugged in construction and well adapted to stand the rigors which such storage containers are subjected to.

This invention involves many other objects which will appear from the detailed disclosure given below.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement and relative location of parts all as will be described in detail in the following specification.

Referring to the drawing:'

Figure 1 is a developed view of the sheet of material from which the drawer of the container is constructed;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the iinished drawer with the re-enforcing bottom member partially broken away;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the drawer;

Fig. 4 is a developed view of the material from which the drawer cabinet is formed;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the complete structure showing the cabinet with the drawer therein; v

Fig. 6 is a vertical central cross-sectional view through the cabinet with the drawer removed; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged cross-sectional detailed view of a modified construction.

There are at the present a number of tiling or storage containers of the general nature of this invention. Such containers, however, have vari-ius weaknesses or defects which, for one reason or another, impair their efficiency in normal use. For this` reason the present invention has been devised with the particular object in mind of constructing an exceedingly strong container of this type by reason of the peculiarities of construction employed. The container of this invention is preferably made of cardboard such as the corrugated type, of fibre and other similar materials. By reason of the ruggedness oi the container of this invention it is possible to support a number of the containers, one on top of the other, even when loaded to form substan-l tially a ling cabinet of what might be termed.' the built-up type. These containers are largely Robert P. Jonas, Frank i931., serial No. 573,096

(Cl. 229-19)l used for the storageof non-current records and are stacked in piles of considerable height, necessitating a file of great strength to sustain the load. There are at present ling or storage containers of the general nature of this invention, but such containers have several defects and weaknesses which impair their eiciency in normal use. 'Ijhe side walls ktend to buckle under load at the front opening when the drawer isy withdrawn. Metal fasteners and handles must @s be pierced for and attached by the user entail, ing considerable time for erection, and there are many raw cut edges exposed giving the container a crude, unnished appearance. The container `of this invention, by reason of the peculiarities 7o of construction employed, is generally more rugged and substantial, is greatly strengthened against buckling of the side walls at the iront opening, can be set-up very quickly as there are no handles or metallic pins or fasteners to attach, and has a minimum of raw cut edges exposed thus presenting a more finished, pleasing appearance.

Referring to the drawing in detail there is shown in Fig. l a single piece of material from which the drawer is substantially formed. It may be cut out or built up from stock in accordance with the principles long known in this art. As indicated it comprises in one piece the sections l, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3, 3b, and da, 4b. The sections. 1b, 2h, 3b and 4b are severed from eachother by means of a slot or cut as indicated at 15, 16 and 17. These same portions which are thus formed are foldable along the dotted lines zndicated. The portion 21 is provided with an integral hap 2c which is likewise bendable along the dotted line shown. Attached to the portion 2b is a suitable handle 5 which is illustrated in the drawing as a band or strap, oi suitable material such as heavy woven fabric. metal or nbre, secured thereto by means of rivets 6. The handle is of such a design as to permit the gummed strap 19 to pass through and be amxed to portion 2B as shown. The drawer is formed by folding the blankpf material along the vertical dotted lines of Fig. l 10.0 i

to form right angles. The result is a rectangular form which may be secured in this shape at the abutting edges of portions 1a and lb by means of a gummed strap 50. The portions 2b and 4b are then folded into right angle position with respect to the portions 1a and 4e respectively, as indicated in Fig. 2, and v,the `portions 1D and 3b are then folded thereover as' isindicated in Fig. 2. strap of gummed material 19 is then fastened over the joint formed at the bottom of the contion 18a.

tainer as clearly indicated in Fig. 2 and is brought up some distance on sides 2a and 4a. It is, of course, apparent that the opposed edges of the portions 1b and 3b of Fig. 2 may be substantially in contact or separated a short distance as indicated in Fig. 2. A rectangular piece of material is then forced down into the container to form a smooth interior bottom wall therefor. The strap or handle 5 projects out of one end of the container as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 and the ends which are attached to the portions 2b by the rivets 6 lie between the portions 2b and the portions 1b and 3b as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The portion 2s is then folded over'at right angles to form a finished edge and a wall under which the papers in the container lie especially when it is full to prevent the papers from interfering with the drawer action. This portion or iiap 2c also fits down between the side walls of the drawer to strengthen the drawer against lateral pressures as does the tight-fitting inlaid bottom por- The portions 2b andlb likewise fold up into a position so as to lie between the side pieces 1a and 3a so as to act in conjunction with the flap 2c to laterally strengthen the drawer.

4As a result of this construction, which is exceedingly simple, a very rugged and'strong drawer is obtained. f

The case for the drawer is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. It comprises a single piece of material comprising the\portions 20a, 21a, 228', 23a, 20h, 2lb, 22h, 231, 20C, 22, 210, and 23. All of these portions are integral to form a single piece which is foldable upon the dotted lines to form the container. The portions 2Gb, 2lb, 22b and 2312 are separated longitudinally by the slots or cuts 24, 25 and 26. The main body portion is bent on the dotted lines so as to form a rectangular enclosure having the sides 20a and 22a and the top and bottom 23l1 and 21a. The abutting edges are sealed together by means of the gummed strip 28. The walls of the container are given a double thickness by bending the aps 20h, 2lb, 22b and 23b on the dotted lines into the container so as to lie fiat against and parallel with the inside surfaces of the walls 20, 21, 22a and 23a respectively. These long flaps can be folded in posi-v tion by scoring them at suitable points as is well known in this art. The upper and lower flaps (21b and 23h) when turned in are a close fit between the sides (20a and 22a) while the side iiaps (22b and 20h) when turned in fit closely between the turned in flaps 21b and 23b thereby forming Walls of double thickness with the side walls taking the load of the double thickness top. Turning in the flaps provides not only smooth edges as indicated in Fig. 5 but the fold immeasurably strengthens the front opening through the greater resistance to distortion which a fold provides. The result is that at the front of the container it is provided with smooth edges as indicated in Fig. 5. By folding back the flaps onto the portion to which they are attached the container is not only given Walls of double thickness, as is clear from Fig. 6 which is the section through the case, but the fold itself at the front opening has the property of resisting buckling, bowing, or sagging. The flaps 20" and 22c are then bent into a right angle position as is clear from Fig. 6.

The flaps 21c and 23c are then folded in at right angles to overlie the flaps 20c and 22c as is likewise clear in Fig. 6. Over the joint thus formed and extending part way down the sides is secured the gummed strip 27. This provides the container which receives the drawer as is clear in Fig. 5. It isv at once apparent that the rigidity and strength imparted by the construction employed provides an outer case or shell which is exceedingly strong and well adapted to support without crushing not only the weight of the contents thereof but a number of similarly loaded files one upon the other even though the drawers are either partially or completely Withdrawn. They are also enabled by means of this construction to endure the relatively rough treatment to which they would be normally subjected.

The principle of increasing the strength and rigidity of the outer container is carried further in a slightly different form in Fig. 7. The front edges of the container are expanded into a wall of the desired width as indicated at X with the side wall 22a and the flap portion 22b lying parallel as indicated. This construction may be `re-enforced by insertion of wood, metal or bre member of a suitable form like the U-shaped girder 30 which fits on the interior thereof and may be, if desired, glued or otherwise secured thereto.` This construction gives even` greater rigidity to the outer container although it tends to enlarge its overall dimensions somewhat. The principle of construction, however, is the same in both forms of structure.

It should also be noted that by the construction employed in attaching the handle in the manner illustrated the strains which are transmitted through the handle are evenly distributed throughout the drawer structure and because the handle acts in4 a plane parallel to the flap 22h in the bottom of the drawer the result is an exceedingly strong structure.

Another modification which may be employed in strengthening the casing of this invention consists in providing a metal re-enforcing band which fits entirely around the casing adjacent the open end or mouth thereof and lying between the double walls so as to be entirely covered over. Such a re-enforcing strip acts to aid in maintaining the casing in correct form when the drawer is removed therefrom and prevents buckling and bowing even if a number of loaded containers are resting thereon and the drawer is removed therefrom.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that my invention resides in certain principles of construction which may be embodied in other physical forms without departure therefrom. I do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as given for purposes of Aillustration but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A ling container as described comprising in combination a double wall casing, a separate slidable drawer therefor formed of an integral body of material having a plurality of bottom flaps to form a closed bottom and to provide lateral bracing therefor.

2. A filing cabinet las described comprising in combination a double wall casing of fibrous material, a slidable drawer therefor constructed of a single piece of fibrous material with overlying reenforcing bottom iiaps, a removable tight-fitting bottom member for laterally bracing the same, and a handle member secured to one of the bottom flaps of the drawer so that strains thereon are transmitted in a plane parallel to the bottom of the drawer.

3. A casing blank foldable to form a double wall container open at one end and closed at the other end with double walls comprising an integral body of material having cuts extending part way across to form naps, alternate flaps on each side being provided with extending foldable flap portions.

4. A cabinet of the type described comprising an outer double wall casing made of a single body of brous material bent to form an openended casing, means for securing the parts in casing form and a removable drawer therefor made of a single piece of fibrous material bent to form an open top container having bottom iiaps lying between the side walls to laterally brace it, means for securing the portions thereof in drawer form, and a handle of different material secured to one of the portions forming a part of the bottom of the drawer.

5. A cabinet casing made up of fibrous sheet material folded to form an open-ended casing having double walls and smooth folded edges at the open end and overlapping end flaps sealed together to form a laterally braced casing, and re-enforcing members for the front opening cornprising stiffening members within the folded edges.

6. A container comprising a double wall casing open at one end made from a single piece of fibrous material having four wall portions to form the outer walls, integral flaps on each portion folded back parallel to the outer walls to provide inner reenforcing walls and lying between outer walls to laterally and vertically brace them, overlapping end flaps integral with the outer walls to form a laterally and vertically braced end wall, a slidable drawer made from "a single piece of fibrous material, and flaps on the walls thereof two of which are folded at right angles to the walls to which they are attached and lying between the other two walls to laterally brace the drawer.

7. A filing cabinet as described comprising a casing formed of an integral blank of material having double walls and a separate removable drawer therein likewise constructed from a single blank of material, each wall of the drawer blank having integral flaps on the bottom edges folded to form a bottom, a pair of said flaps lying between the side walls and the drawer to laterally brace the drawer.

FRANK D. JONAS. 

